The 12 hour shift for Belize City Police Officers, it was implemented back in 2012 in the middle of a crime wave. The idea was to maximize human resources in Belize City for the greatest crime suppression. Since then, about 500 new police officers have been added to the force, and some say there's no longer as urgent a need to maximize resources. At least that's what southside commander Chester Williams seemed to think. He reverted to the 8 hours shift this weekend, but that sent off alarm bell in Belmopan. Our reports say that Commissioner Whylie told him to return to the 12 hours shift system, pronto! According to our reports that hasn't happened yet - and one city resident hopes it doesn't; Justice of the Peace Grace Flowers lives on west Canal between multiple gang zones and the police have to keep a permanent presence on her block. She says the 12 hour shift makes them inattentive:..
Grace Flowers, JP, West Canal Resident
"I think the long shift is not working. That 12-hour shift cannot work, because you as a person at the end of the day you will get sleepy and tired, especially the night shifts. I think they should put it back to the 8 hour shift. Some of them who I've spoken to, is not really with the 12-hours. They say that when they go home, they are tired and they cannot deal with their family the way how they want. Some of them have to commute from district to the city and I don't see that making sense. Because you for one will work the first night, the second and third night, you will be sleepy."
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